Scottsdale's Most Famous Landmark: A Guide's Take on the Tom's Thumb Hiking Tour
Scottsdale's Most Famous Landmark
Every valley has one landmark that shows up on every postcard. For Scottsdale, it's a 200-foot granite monolith perched above the desert floor, shaped like a thumb pointing at the sky. This hike goes straight to it.
The Tom's Thumb Hiking Tour lasts approximately 3 to 4 hours, is rated moderate to strenuous, and climbs through the McDowell Sonoran Preserve - the largest city-owned preserve in the world. It's the most famous mountain trail in Scottsdale, and with a local guide leading the way, you'll see why.
The Climb Through the Preserve
Your guide contacts you ahead of the tour with your exact meeting time and the meetup location near the trailhead. After a safety briefing and a water check, the route gets right to work: a steady ascent up switchbacks, gaining about 1,236 feet as the Valley of the Sun opens up below you.
The climb passes massive granite boulders, towering saguaros, and five different overlooks worth pausing at. Along the way, your guide reads the landscape - the geology, plants, and animals of the most diverse desert in North America. A few little-known "secret" spots are part of the fun.
The Monolith and the Views
The payoff is an extraordinary upper-elevation boulder field - and then Tom's Thumb itself, up close. From the summit area, the views stretch in every direction: Scottsdale, Four Peaks and the Valley of the Sun, with the McDowell Sonoran Preserve spread out below. There's time at the top for trail snacks, beverages, and as many photos as you want.
Bring a camera - the light on the granite and the scale of the views make this one of the best photo opportunities in the preserve. The descent follows the same trail back to the trailhead, where post-hike refreshments are waiting.
Who This Hike Is For
Hikers ages 12 and up who are comfortable with sustained uphill effort. This is the strenuous end of our hiking lineup - uneven rocky footing, stair-step switchbacks, and a real climb. If you can handle stairs without issue and want a genuine summit payoff, this is the one. Three things worth knowing before you book:
- 3 to 4 hours - the full experience, including summit time.
- $129 per person for groups of 4 to 10 - pairs and trios are $145 each, and solo hikers $258. All pricing includes permitting and land use fees.
- Departure times are seasonally adjusted - typically 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the cooler months and 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the warmer months, with your guide confirming the exact time.
Two honest notes: the minimum age is 12 - for parties with children under 12, please reach out through our contact page. And closed-toe shoes are required - running, cross-training, or hiking shoes. No sandals, please.
Know Before You Go
A few things that make the day go smoothly:
- Reservations are required. Book in advance to ensure guide availability.
- It runs year-round. Departure times shift with the season, and earlier starts keep summer hikes comfortable.
- Your guide contacts you ahead of the tour with your exact meeting time and the meetup location near the trailhead. Uber and Lyft drop-off and pick-up are available.
- Bring 2-3 liters of your own water. Water is provided, but there is no drinking water at the trailhead or on the trail.
- Travel light. Lightweight backpacks, purified water, trail snacks (dietary preferences accommodated) and park admission fees are all provided.
- The cancellation window is 72 hours. Please read your confirmation email for details.
Everything else - what to wear, how weather is handled, add-ons like hotel transportation and private tours - is answered on the Tom's Thumb Hiking Tour FAQ.
Ready to Meet the Monolith?
Four hours, one serious climb, and the most iconic view in Scottsdale at the end of it. Check availability on the Tom's Thumb Hiking Tour page, and brush up on the details in the Tom's Thumb Hiking Tour FAQ before you go. The Thumb has been waiting out there for a few million years - it's worth the climb.